THE PILGRIMAGE TOUR OF ISRAEL
DAY 01: DEPARTURE
Depart for your pilgrim to the Holy Land on Ethiopian Airlines. Check in at Jomo Kenyatta Airport Nairobi for the mandatory security checks and immigration formalities. Thereafter spend the remaining time before flight departs in moments of quiet reflection. Get plenty of sleep in the flight and prepare yourself both mentally and physically for the religious experience ahead which is bound to forever change your life as a believing Christian.
DAY 2: TEL AVIV,ELAH VALLEY,ARAD
Morning arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv aboard Ethiopian Airlines.. Met and assisted through immigration and customs formalities by a representative of Raydoll Tours ground operators for the pilgrim tour of Israel. This will be followed by a brief presentation of the program and distribution of the Pilgrim package including T shirt, Cap, Holy Land Map etc.
Breakfast will be enjoyed at a nearby hotel in Tel Aviv.
After breakfast board your air-conditioned coaches and start your drive to Aijalon Valley, to Gibeon, the place where Joshua fought the combined forces of the Amorites and where he had great victory. It was at Gibeon that Joshua commanded the moon and the sun to stand still and both stopped in the sky and delayed going down (Josh, 10,12-15). Pass by Emmaus, the place where Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after his resurrection (Luke 24,13-36). Drive through Beit Shemesh where Samson the hero fought the Philistines and was betrayed by Delilah (Jud, 16,4-31), and arrive at the Valley of Ella where young David defeated the giant Goliath (1Samuel chap 17).
After Lunch continue to the modern city of Arad, not far from the Biblical Arad, which was completely destroyed by the Israelites after the Lord gave them victory over the Canaanites (Numb 21,1-4). Dinner and overnight in Arad.
DAY 3: BEER SHEVA,THE NEGEV ,EILAT,SINAI
Start the day, after breakfast with a visit to Abraham’s Well in Beersheva (Beersheba) where Moses and Abimelech signed a treaty sealed by the giving of seven lambs in witness to the fact that Moses had dug a well here. At Beersheba you will see the old Tamarisk Tree planted by Moses as a lasting reminder of that oath. It is recorded that Moses lived in Beersheva among the Philistines for a long time ( Gen. 21,25-34).
From Beersheva continue to Sde-Boker Valley, the Kibbutz of Ben Gurion the first Prime Minister of Israel. Stop for a breathtaking panorama at the Ramon Crater. Then drive through the Negev Desert to Eilat where you will stop for lunch. After lunch cross the boarder to Egypt. Drive to Mt. Sinai where you arrive late in the day. Mt Sinai is of great religious significance both to Jews and Christians alike because it is here where the Israelites first camped on the way from Egypt and where Moses received the Law from God. “ In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt they came to the Desert of Sinai…………and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the Mountain” Ex 19 V1-2. Dinner and overnight at the foothill of Mt. Sinai.
DAY 4: MT SINAI/ST CATHERINE M ONASTERY/EILAT
Immediately after an early breakfast start your devotional climb of Mt. Sinai . The book of Exodus records that Moses “went up to God and the Lord called him from the Mountain’’(Chap 19 v3) where the Lord commanded him to “ Go to the people and consecrate them’ (Chap 19 v10 ) It is here that “ Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God” (Chap 19 v17, and where Moses was called up to the top of the Mountain and came down with the Ten Commandments and the “Torah”, The Law” (Exodus 20, 1-18).
Thereafter visit the ancient monastery of St. Catherine and see the traditional site of the Burning Bush, the place believed to be the exact spot of the commissioning of Moses with the great eternal words, “ I AM WHO I AM has sent me to you……..this is my name for ever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation” Ex 3 v1-15.
After this morning of great religious significance drive along the Red Sea shores and cross back from Egypt to Israel. Stop for lunch, then drive to Eilat, the beautiful tourist seaside resort , as famous today for thriving trade as it was in King Solomon’s times. Dinner and overnight in Eilat
DAY 5: Drive along theTIMNA MINES, ARAVA VALLEY, DEAD SEA, JERUSALEM
Today you start after breakfast and pass by the Timna Mines near Eilat, source of the world famous Eilat Stone, and the site of the mines located in the Arava (Arabah) valley. The importance of the mines date back to Biblical days for they are the source of Solomon’s great riches. From the mines, King Solomon’s men obtained the copper that was traded for the luxury wares and precious metals used in the building and adorning of the Temple and his palaces. The book of Kings records that “King Solomon also built ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath (Eilat) in Edom, on the shores of the Red Sea (1 King 9 v26). The Bible also records that the children of Israel passed by Eilat on their 40 years wanderings in the desert. (Deut 2 v 8)
After viewing the mines, continue along the Aravah Valley to the Dead Sea. Driving along the base of Mt Sodom- a mountain of solid salt rock which is traditionally associated with the Lord’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorra, stop and view a large pillar up on the hill which has the outline of a woman and which legend associate with “Lot’s wife” (Gen. 19,24-28).
You break for lunch at a restaurant along the Dead Sea beach. Thereafter, continue on and pass by Massada where the Jewish Zealots heroically stood their ground against the Romans. Drive by Qumran Caves and see the cave where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Stop at the Inn of the Good Samaritan, then continue your drive to enter the Holy City of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
DAY 6: MOUNT OF OLIVES/BETHLEHEM
Visit the Garden and the Church of Gethsemane (Mat. 26,30-5-); visit the nearby Tomb of Mary. Drive to the top of Mt. Olives and see the place of the ascension of Christ (Acts 1,6-12). Walk to the Church of Patter Nostre where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11,1-4).
Drive to Bethlehem and after lunch visit the Church of Nativity and the Shepherds Fields, where the Angel of the Lord announced to the Shepherds the birth of Christ. (Luke 2,8-20). Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
DAY 7: EIN KAREM/YAD VASHEM /HOLOCAUST MUSEUM/KNESSET
Drive to Ein Karem, visit the birthplace of John the Baptist and the Church of the Visitation (Luke 1,1-80). Thereafter, visit the Holocaust Museum, memorial to six million Jews murdered by Nazis. Drive to modern Jerusalem, visit the Government center, see the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament and the “Menorah”. Rest of the day free for shopping in modern part of Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem
DAY 8: VIA DOLOROSA/MT ZION/GARDEN TOMB
Enter the Old City and visit the Wailing Wall, only remnant of the Temple. Continue to Mount Moriah, where Abraham was ordered to scarifice his son Isaac. Pass by the Dome of the Rock Mosque and visit the pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the sick man (John 5,1-9). In the nearby Church of St. Ann you have the opportunity to sing Hymns. Continue along the Via Dolorosa and the Stations of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After lunch visit the Tomb of King David on Mt. Zion, the Last Supper Hall and the Dormition Abbey. Drive to the Church of St. Peter Galicantu, where Peter denied Jesus three times.
After lunch visit the Garden Tomb where there will be an opportunity for a service of Holy Communion. Remainder of the day free for prayers or quiet reflection either individually or in a group. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
DAY 9: TRIUMPHAL ENTRY ROAD, BETHANY, JERICHO, RIVER JORDAN, TIBERIAS
Drive along the Palm Sunday Road (Luke 19,28-44), to Bethany. Visit the Church and Tomb of Lazarus (John 11,1-44); continue to Jericho, oldest city on earth and see the Sycamore tree of Zacchaeus (Luke 19,1-10). See Mt. Temptation (Mat. 4,1-11) and the “Tell” where Joshua destroyed the walls of Jericho (Josh 6,1-20), Drive along Jordan Valley and see the Samarian Hills on which Jesus promised the Samaritan Woman “the living water” (John 4,3-26), see Mt Gilboa where Saul, first king of Israel fell (Sam 2,31,1-4) and arrive Beit Shean where you see the ancient Roman Amphitheater. Visit River Jordan, same river where John Baptized Jesus (Mat 3,13-17). Dinner and overnight in Tiberias
DAY 10: CANA, NAZARETH, MT TABOR
Drive to Cana of Galilee where Jesus made his first miracle (John 2,1-11), on to Nazareth, boyhood town of Jesus. Visit the Church of the Annunciation (Mark 1,26-35). After lunch drive to Mt. Tabor, the mount of the Transfiguration (Mat 17,1-8). Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
DAY 11: SEA OF GALILEE, MT OF THE BEATITUDES,CHURCH OF PRIMACY, TAGBA, CAPERNAUM
Drive via Magdala, birthplace of Mary Magdalena to the Mt. Of the Beatitudes, place of the Sermon on the Mount. There will be an opportunity for a religious service (Mat 5,1-16). On to the place of the multiplication of the fishes and the loaves of bread (Mark 6,34-44). Visit the nearby Church of the Primacy of St. Peter and view the ancient synagogue. Enjoy a boat ride on the same lake where Jesus calmed the storm (Mark 4,35-41), and walked upon the water (Mark 6,47-52). After a special lunch of the famous St. Peter fish, return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
DAY 12: HAIFA, MT CARMEL, CAESAREA, JAFFA, TEL AVIV
Depart Tiberias and drive to the port city of Haifa. See the Bahai temple and stop on the top of Mt. Carmel at the cave of Elijah (Kings 1, 18, 1-40). Drive along the Mediterranean Coast to Caesarea where Peter baptized the Roman centurion Cornelius (Act 22,1-8,34-48). Visit the aqueduct, the ancient stairs and drive by the old city wall. (Acts 22,1-21). After lunch drive through the streets of Tel-Aviv to Old Jaffa, where Peter saw the Vision (Acts 10, 9-16). Here Peter resurrected the Disciple Tabitha and see the house of Simon the Tanner (Acts 9,36-43). Continue to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 13: RETURN TO KENYA
After a dawn breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your return flight to Kenya aboard Ethiopian Airlines.
PILGRIM ENDS